Riley’s deal: Three years, lowest GM salary in the league, Warriors get what they pay for

* Just started the Twitter thing http://twitter.com/timkawakami), have no idea how this precisely is going to work, but it’s worth a try. Everything I do there will be directing you to here, I think. That’s the plan, anyway.

No surprise, it appears that Larry Riley has become the lowest-paid GM in the NBA, which isn’t terrible for a guy who wasn’t exactly a hot commodity at any point. But it’s telling.

Very telling about the current state of the Warriors vision and power structure, or lack thereof.

I’ve checked around and the word is that Riley got a 3-year deal, worth about $700-800k annually.

(I think Chris Mullin as exec VP, was making about $1.5M. (Hey, that’s a great reason for Robert Rowell to dump the exec-VP model! Same weird front-office, HALF THE PRICE.)

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Before Riley’s short-shrift deal, the lowest-paid GM was believed to be Oklahoma City’s Sam Presti, at somewhere below $900k.

Presti definitely was a hot commodity at the time, and is even more so now, so you’d imagine he took the low money because he got full power. (And because he took the job in Seattle as they were moving to OKC.)

Anyway, Riley’s low salary is probably lower than a few No. 2 basketball ops guys in the league.

If I have my numbers right, Riley’s probably making about half as much as the league average for GM/VP-types (whatever you want to call the No. 1 basketball decision-maker), which was somewhere above $1.5M per annum.

I don’t know what Rowell’s making, with four more years left on his contract as team colussus/president, but it’s probably not too high, either, since Chris Cohan does love it when his execs are making less than average.

Don’t expect anybody to be lured to the Warriors front office with big $$$ signs. If anybody is added, it’ll almost certainly be on the cheap.

Because there is only one non-player making the big bucks in Warriors land. He lives in Maui, he swears he doesn’t want to be the GM, he has a willing little buddy who is now the GM, and he makes $6M a year, starting next season.

Tim Kawakami

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I am going to go on record right now and say that Larry Riley’s Warriors will win more games in his first season as GM than any other Warrior GM in their first season in the last 15 years.

JB

I too am a former season ticket holder….personally ok with not renewing because what’s the point? To witness mediocrity, I can do that from the couch and spend the same amount of money on a 6 pack as I could 1 beverage at the Oracle.

Come on Cohan, seek new ownership. Larry Ellison probably would STILL pay you top dollar.

And TK, if you’re twitter is correct…

“Hearing that Rowell says Mullin lost his trust w-Foyle-Fisher-Dunlvy & Murphy signings. So he wanted to fire Mullin for 3-4 years? Silly.”

Is that the best thing that Rowell could come up with?! Fisher should still be thanking Kobe, Shaq, and the rest of the lakers for helping him secure that contract. Mully at least un did the Dumbleavy/Murphy deal…only to have it RUINED by you Rowell (and Nellie…).

-Get JC for an obviouly upset and bitter Al Harrington, could have been handled better by both sides. Where were you on that one, Bobby?
– RE UP Jackson for what?!??!?! Nice move, Bobby. You’re probably willing to pay Larry 700k just to have title to take criticism away from you.

You claim to be the “business” guy, well Bobby, you’ve made some terrible business decisions. And stop with the “Great Time Out” campaign. A great time out would be witness a successful team with hope.

Wupuck

Wow 21. Eric – you nailed it dead on! The difference is Tim IS getting paid to write his opinions and all you idiots can do is come to HIS blog and write snide little comments about his work….

Pot calling the Kettle black if I ever saw it…

Joe Barely Cares

Hmmmm….sounds like with these supposed season ticket holders not renewing, it’s a good thing Riley is coming cheap. :blush:

Eric

#51 Wusuck

Actually, I work in the IT sector, so I can do my job and get paid to insult clueless Kawakami at the same time. Isn’t that wonderful.

jasonbourne

Riley=Puppet. Just follow the money. Rowell gave Nelson his extension, so it will be interesting to see what happens between them next.

robert

ole TK gets alot mileage from this story.

Buster

Kawakami you are by far and away the biggest hater in sports journalism. Riley could suck, who knows but there’s no reason to be such an asshole to the guy from day 1. You don’t like cohan/rowell, I can’t say that I’m a big fan of either but WTF has Riley done that’s been so horrible? But crapping on Riley is you just being a dick. He could end up being worth more than he’s paid, who knows. Don’t know a thing about you but I’d bet $1000 you don’t have kids. You’re far too self involved and frankly, kids tend to keep one’s ego in check. I don’t mind a columnist being a stick in the mud, Ratto’s great. But he also seems like a decent guy. Sorry man, you just have turned into a complete jerk ove the last few years. Liked your old stuff a lot but you’ve just become a bitter prick over the years. Used to think it was just kind of schtick but I’ve come to realize you really just like being a jerk to see if you can get some kind of “reaction” from people. That’s junior sports writer crap before you figure things out in the real world. You’re back to the beginning, congratulations.

Wupuck

Eric, actually ur not getting paid to surf the internet – your just allowed to do it because it a “benefit” of your position. OH Wait, why am I explaining it to you and the other idiots like you? You are all the same types of idiots who will buy season tickets from Cohan and Riley for that crap product faking as an NBA team in Oakland because you sure as hell don’t know a thing about what it takes to win in the NBA.

WE DON’T BELIEVE

After failure after failure at turning around one of the worst franchises in professional sports it’s good to know Cohan and Rowell went after a cheap, discount, bargain GM……

Cohan (or is that Robert Rowell’s call) is apparently takinig a page from John York. At least Steve Schott poured money he didn’t put in A’s players pockets into a new baseball diamond–complete with lights–at SCU.

crionics

Never was a Cohan fan after watching his first press conference as owner. Rowell must’ve been cloned to his likeness. Rowell loves the media attention and ridding Mullin would give him more of that. Rowell must go!